Very little known. The distribution area of this species is in evaporite formations and collection sites are accessed only by man-made wells. It is likely that the fishes inhabit an extensive area of relatively small fissures thought this is not proven. Messana, Chelazzi and Baccetti (1985) record that while most of the karstic system of Somalia is composed of small cavities there are exceptions and some large cavities exist (e.g. Manas and Taleh). The species is capable of tolerating a large range of salinity values since the well at El Dirri is about twice as saline (and twice as hard) as the Bud-Bud well. Various aquatic troglobitic crustaceans have been taken in the wells and may form part or all of the diet of this fish (information from Ercolini, Berti, Chelazzi, and Messana 1982:228-230).

Systematics

The relationships of this species are not well understood. Banister (1984:934) suggests that at the generic level there are osteological similarities to the genus Garra. Howes (1991) placed this species (together withBarbopsis devecchii andCaecobarbus geertsii) in the barbin lineage of the subfamily Cyprininae. A detailed electrophoretic study allowed Sbordoni, DeMatthaeis, Mattoccia, Berti and Sbordoni (1996) to calculate Nei’s genetic distance (D) between this species and the other Somali hypogean cyprinid Barbopsis devecchii. Their value of D=0.7 falls within the range for species (0.004-3.000) showing that G. andruzzii is a good species. During this study samples from three of the seven known sites for this species were examined and the electrophoretic data strongly suggest that gene flow between sites is restricted or absent. This has lead to pronounced genetic subdivisions between populations and significant heterozygosity. Colli et al. (2009) found ………. All of the distinctive morphological features of this species are due to evolution underground (troglomorphy) and cannot be used to assess its relationships. It seems likely that the different degrees of troglomorphy exhibited by the Somali cyprinids is the result of different lengths of time isolated in caves. Garra andruzzii is the most troglomorphic and this may be because climatic factors (desertification) forced its ancestors underground first.

VU D2 (IUCN 1996), VU D2 (IUCN 2000). In large areas of Somalia pumps are now being used to remove water from wells. If this is carried out over a long period without replenishment of ground water by rain the water table will inevitably fall. This could pose a serious threat to this species and the other two cave-dwelling species in this country, Barbopsis devecchii and Uegitglanis zammaranoi.

This species is found in Ecoregion 83 (Horn) of Thieme et al. (2005). This is a xeric area which is nationally important faunistically, with a conservation status of relatively stable and a priority class of 5 (Brown and Thieme 2005).